Wolters Kluwer Health
may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed
to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without
your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Dispelling Myths and Creating Opportunity: A Comparison of the Strengths of Single-Parent and Two-Parent Families

Although single-parent family life has become mainstream in many ways, knowledge about these families has been focused predominantly on the chronic problems they experience. This study describes the strengths of single-parent families, compares these strengths to those of two-parent families, and describes families' explanations of the effect of self-identified strengths on health. Although single-parent and two-parent families are different structurally, the nature and pattern of strengths are found to be more similar than different between these two groups. These findings challenge stereotypical views of single-parent families that emphasize problems and vulnerability and exclude a consideration of their strengths.

Associate Professor and NHRDP/MRC Career Scientist; School of Nursing; The University of Western Ontario; London, Ontario; Canada

This research was supported by grants from the National Health Research Development Program (NHRDP), Health Canada (No. 6606-5208-55), and Iota Omicron Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau. The author thanks Heather Laschinger, RN, PhD, and Helene Berman, RN, PhD, for providing editorial comments on this manuscript.